OSHKOSH, Wis. (uwrfsports.com) - The UW-River Falls Softball team began WIAC play with two losses to UW-Oshkosh on a cold April day by scores of 5-0 and 7-0 with the Falcons scattering 12 hits in two games on the road.
 
First Game: UW-O 5 UWRF 0
Both UWRF and UW-Oshkosh went three up and three down in the opening inning with Michelle LaCasse striking out one batter. The Falcons in the second inning got a single from Abby Veloske and she advanced to second on a fielder's choice before being stranded at second base to end the inning.

In the bottom of the second inning UW-Oshkosh smacked three hits with the Titans driving in one run and also scoring a second run on a wild pitch making the score 2-0.

UW-Oshkosh added on in the bottom of the third inning with four hits highlighted by a two RBI single by the Titans to make the score 5-0 at the end of the third inning.

In the top of the fourth, UWRF connected on four separate hits with Veloske getting her second hit of the game, but the Falcons were unable to drive anyone home while leaving two runners on base.

After giving up five runs in the first three innings, LaCasse was able to settle down and not allow a hit for the remaining three innings she pitched. LaCasse finished with six innings pitched with one strikeout and two walks and took the loss, moving her record on the season to 4-5. Sara Brunlieb for UW-Oshkosh finished with a complete game five-hitter.
 
Second Game: UW-O 7 UWRF 0
In the second game of the doubleheader, the Falcons fell behind early are were not able to get anyone across home plate and were shut out for the second game in a row.

The Titans took over in the bottom of the first inning with a single up the middle by Erica Berry off of freshman pitcher Payton Speckel and took the quick 1-0 lead.

In the top of the second inning, the Falcons got a leadoff hit from Veloske and another hit from Shannan Borchardt singled as well to put two runners on with no outs. UW-Oshkosh pitcher Clare Robbe struck out the third Falcon batter before throwing a wild pitch advancing the runners to second and third. Robbe then struck out two Falcons in a row to end the inning with the 1-0 lead in tact.

After getting a run in the bottom of the second inning making it 2-0, the Falcons had a chance to tie with the bases loaded in the top of the fourth inning. The Falcons grounded out in the inning and could not take advantage of the two errors by UW-Oshkosh.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, UW-Oshkosh used five hits while pouring on five more runs to put away the Falcons who knocked around four more hits in the game, but did not drive anyone home.

Speckel took the loss for the Falcons moving her record to 2-3 on the season. Veloske finished with two singles in three plate appearances moving her season batting average to .405. Aiyana Ledwein also had two singles in four plate appearances.

Next up for UW-River Falls will be a doubleheader on the road against UW-Whitewater with the first pitch set for 12 p.m. The Falcons last win against UW-Whitewater was on May 6, 2012 in the WIAC Championship game. UW-Whitewater is 12-7 on the season and 1-1 in the WIAC.